Another Bench, Another Message of Hope 💙
Today was another very special day for Legend on the Bench as we unveiled a Suicide Prevention Bench in St James’s Square, right in the heart of central London.
As always, standing there and seeing another bench take its place was incredibly emotional. Every bench has a story behind it. Every bench represents someone who is deeply loved and missed, and every bench carries a message that we hope will reach somebody at a time when they need it most.
The turnout of supporters today was absolutely amazing. To look around and see so many people coming together, giving their time and showing their support, really does remind you of what can happen when people care.💙
The speeches were inspiring and came from the heart. There were some very emotional moments, but also a real sense of hope running through the whole day. That is what these benches are about. They are not just somewhere to sit. They are a visible reminder that it is okay to stop, to pause, to talk and, most importantly, to listen.
Bav Shah’s Speech.
Paul Miller’s Speech.
A massive thank you to every single person who played a part in making today’s unveiling possible. From raising the funds, to getting the necessary approvals, to arranging everything behind the scenes, there are so many people whose hard work often goes unseen. Without you, these benches simply wouldn’t happen.💙
And I have to give a very special mention to Bav.
Bav, what you have done to help raise the funds and secure all the necessary approvals has been absolutely incredible.
You have gone above and beyond every step of the way, and on behalf of everyone at Legend on the Bench, I want to say a huge thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your commitment, determination and belief in what we are trying to achieve have helped turn an idea into something real, something that will be there for people who need it, not just today, but for many years to come. You should be incredibly proud of the part you have played in making this happen.
Thank you, Bav, for everything you have done and for believing in our cause. It genuinely means more than words can say. 💙🙏
Also a big thank you to the Hazara Lodge 4159 members who helped raise the funds for the bench and showed up in their numbers in support of the cause, thank you.💙
A BIG thank you to Spurs legend Paul Miller, who joined us for the Bench Reveal at St James’s Square.
Paul spoke so beautifully about our charity, mental health and suicide prevention, and then had the honour of unveiling the bench. It really does mean so much to us to have someone like Paul standing alongside us and supporting what we are trying to achieve. We are incredibly grateful for everything you did for our charity today, Maxi. Your support, your words and the way you spoke from the heart meant a great deal to all of us. People like you give us so much belief for the future of Legend on the Bench. When good people stand together for something that matters, we really can make a difference.
Thank you, Maxi. We appreciate you more than you know. LEGEND. 💙
I also want to say a huge thank you to Alex Bray and Anthony Lee manager and assistant manager of the St James’s Square Trust, for allowing us to install and unveil one of our Suicide Prevention Benches in the beautiful gardens of St James’s Square. To have one of our benches in such a prominent and historic location is a real honour for us and something we will always be incredibly proud of. Unfortunately Alex was unable to attend today but Anthony was excellent.
Anthony, your words today were kind, caring and compassionate, and they showed just how much you understand the importance of what this bench represents. This bench is now sitting in a beautiful place, but more importantly, it is there for anyone who may need somewhere to sit, pause, talk, listen or simply know that they are not alone. Thank you, Anthony, for believing in what we are doing and for helping us put another bench in a place where it can hopefully make a difference.
One bench, one conversation, one life at a time. 💙
Thank you to our very own trustee Kerry, who worked so hard to help get approval to have this bench installed in St James Sq in such a prominent position. Thank you Kerry.
Mental health and suicide prevention affect so many families and communities, and we need to keep talking about it. We need to keep breaking down the stigma and make it easier for people to speak when they are struggling. I truly believe these benches should be in every park, town and community across the UK and Ireland. Imagine the difference we could make if, wherever somebody went, there was a place where they could sit, take a breath and know that someone cares.
Today, St James’s Square has another very special place to sit, and in the words of Tommy O’connor on Linkedin.
“Whilst sitting on the bench.
Pause for a moment…
And…
The world keeps rushing past, but this tiny wooden island gives me permission to heal in slow motion.
Thank You Legend on the Bench.”
Where there is hope, there is a way. 💙🙏
